Napping during the workday may be a good way to relieve stress that could contribute to fatal heart problems, new research indicates. A large study found that male workers who took an afternoon snooze on a regular basis significantly lowered their risk of a heart-related fatality.

The study tracked the effects of napping on the health of 23,681 Greek adults, most of whom were in their 50s, over a period six years on average. The researchers found that people who indulged in a 30-minute siesta three times a week or more often were 37 percent less likely to die from a heart attack or other heart problem than non-nappers.

Working men seemed to benefit most from the extra rest, although the study's lead author, Dr. Dimitrios Trichopoulos of Harvard University and the University of Athens Medical School, speculated that the health advantages probably would extend to women as well. Too few of the female participants died during the course of the study to draw any conclusions, he noted.

A total of 792 participants died during the study period, 133 of them from heart disease. The researchers took diet, exercise and other factors into account, but still found a large benefit associated with napping.

For working men, there was a 64 percent lower risk of death due to heart trouble among those who napped, whether regularly or just on occasion. There was a less dramatic, but still significant, benefit to retired and nonworking men who napped. They experienced a 36 percent risk reduction compared to those who did not nap.

Stress reduction is thought to be the likely reason for the different heart outcomes among those who napped and those who did not, although it is not clear whether stress has a direct effect on heart health or is associated with other risk factors.